Hey Sean
You got any internet links, etc for reviews of the SP Sportmaxx, that give more info about the overall performance.
Nope, but you can have my own personal opinion: they are $h!te, utter pants. I've complained profoundly about them on other threads. I really can't think of any redeeming factors in their favour - oh, they are black and round - will that do?
I did a Google search, and apart from some good writeups from people in the USA, can't find any other useful info.
Post the linkies then, I've yet to see any reviews at all on these!
Mine has them fitted, and in the (very limited) time I've had mine, they seem ok in the wet for grip and handling
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, - your new Ed30 came with them
? I was told by my (lieing) stealer before Xmas that because of the adverse comments from many different GTI owners, Wolfsburg had (supposedly) stopped fitting the SportMaxx.
Just wait until you have worn just 2mm from the tread, still leaving 5mm - that is when you will start suffering horrendous aquaplaning. Look at the outer tread blocks, next to the outermost longitudinal grooves. You will see the reinforcing ridge which closes off the outer tread blocks at 5mm. Interestingly, Dunlops own website:
http://www.dunloptyres.co.uk/ourTyres/car/searchResults/SPSportMaxx/# actually shows the water dispersal from being blocked out to the sides, or outer edges of the tyre (the pic immediately above the size table, with the yellow water in the tread grooves). They even call it "Twin Hydro-Paddle - The directional tread pattern quickly drains and disperses water from both sides of the tread." WTF, on directional tyres, the water is supposed to drain from the centre > outwards!!!!!! - NOT blocking the side outlets like on the SportMaxx
Even in the dry, they are awful. They struggle with straight line traction and braking, and in the corners (hard cornering) they are downright scary - very twitchy, and brake away with no warning, and no controlled sliding.
You certainly won't need to take any Senokot with these tyres!
I am actually trying v.hard to wear them out, because they really do let down the handling of the GTI. I had the fortune to test drive 4 different GTIs, before I purchased mine. I took one of the testers on a "private" facility, which had a specific handling section, and the balance was absolutely suberb. Even Mrs Tamer had a go, and got some controllable slides, and said how easy it was to drive on the limit.
All four different GTIs had different boots, but none had Dunlops, and that has been my major gripe, stating to the stealer that the inital fleet of demo GTIs were heavily marketed on their superb on-the-limit handling. The SportMaxxs' really lower the handling capabilities.
As final comparison, last week, the GTI was at a different stealer for some warranty work. They gave me a Touran (as it was very short notice). The Touran was a diesel, fitted with Michelin Energy E3A boots (the lowest tyre in the Michelin range), and outhandled (in terms of tyre feedback, and on-the-limit handling) my GTI.
No, the SportMaxx really are awful, many peeps slate the Conti SportContact2s, but they are a quantum leap better than the Dunlops. IMVHO, the absolute ultimate tyre for the GTI would be the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2. In joint runner-up slot, that would be shared with the Conti SportContact2 and the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2.
I do go on - don't I . . .
